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- Miscellaneous Articles -

This is a collection of miscellaneous stuff I've come across, not easily categorised into other sections so I haven't even bothered! They are not about anything specifically, but you may find some of them rather challenging.

1. Nails in the Fence (23rd March 2001)
   
2. How to Irritate Other Road Users (6th April 2001)
   
3. Use Blind Carbon Copy! (17th April 2001)
   
4. Wise (or otherwise) Sayings (26th May 2001)
   
5. Five Important Lessons (12th Jan 2002)
   
6. Things I've Learned (15th Jan 2002)
   
7. Gullibility Virus (24th March 2002)
   
8. Baffling Pigs (5th May 2002)
   
9. Psychological Test (18th July 2002)
   
10. Chinese Mystery Meat (4th August 2002)
    
11. Popup/popunder windows (10th August 2002)
12. Spam aware (29th August 2002)
13. Ruling out the Spam (25 Feb 2003)
14. Freeware (20 May 2003)
15. Optical Illusions (10 June 2003)
16. Is your computer secure? (01 Mar 2004)
17. Life Lessons (11th May 2006)
    

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.
His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.

He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.

He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. They will need filling in now.

A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Friends are very rare jewels, indeed, they make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.

I guess from time to time we all have had nails driven into our fences, and if we're honest we'd all have to admit we have driven nails into other people's fences as well.
The good news is that as we learn to love and forgive one another, and also learn to receive the forgiveness of others, the holes where the nails have been can be filled in so well that it will be barely noticeable that there was ever a hole there in the first place.

When you know you're in the wrong, eat humble pie and say that magic word, "Sorry!" and do whatever else may be necessary to show you mean it. It does a power of good.

I often think that the test of a good friendship isn't that you never fall out with each other, but how well you are able to make up afterwards and restore the friendship to its former glory. Sometimes a friendship can even grow stronger as a result!

I wonder how many of the following things you've had done to you when trying to perform the single most dangerous task that people undertake on a daily basis - driving?
Here are a few surefire methods guaranteed to hack other road users off:

1. Intimidate the driver in front of you by tailgating as hard as you can. The stopping distance at 70mph is about 6 inches these days, or you just need to hope that an "emergency" does not develop in front of the driver you are tailgating.
   
   
2. When you are on the sliproad coming onto a motorway, overtake the vehicle in front of you who is doing 2mph slower than you'd like to go and cut in right in front of him. Force him into the hard shoulder - whatever you do DO NOT let him in - it's much better to be involved in a crash than be considerate to other road users. The "accident" will be his fault for failing to give way to you.
   
   
3. When you are on the motorway and have a clear lane to the outside, and you are passing a sliproad where other drivers want to come on, do not move over to overtake them and let them in. Rather, be inconsiderate and force them into the hard shoulder or to slow down and come in behind you. Even though the sliproad is rapidly vanishing, you have right of way so nobody is allowed to join the motorway in front of you.
   
   
4. In some countries it is permissible to overtake on the left or right on the motorways. Adopt this attitude at roundabouts and overtake someone wherever and whenever you can, either side, and cut right in front of him when you leave the roundabout. Again, it's the other driver's fault for being so inconsiderate as to be in your way.
   
   
5. Use roundabouts as you would a motorway. Overtake someone who is in the inside lane, and when he gets upset that you are going to carve him up when leaving the roundabout, make rude gestures at him. After all, it's his fault for being there in the first place, isn't it?
   
   
6. Use your imagination - experiment with variations on the above for explicit use on Magic Roundabouts such as the one in Hemel Hempstead. Be creative - at least you can't be done for thoughtlessness.
   
   
7. Flash your lights and make rude gestures at the driver in front because he wants to let someone in who has been clearly waiting for ages for a gap in the traffic. He has no right to be considerate to other road users, does he?
   
   
8. Never acknowledge anyone for letting you come in in front of them. A smile, a wave, or a flick of the indicator lights costs nothing, but why should you bother anyway? You have a right to be as ungrateful as you like and others must make way for you at all costs.
   
   
9. Never use the outside lane on 3-lane motorways to overtake someone in the middle lane. Instead, sit 6 inches from his tail and pray like mad that he doesn't have a tyre blow-out, or have to ram the anchors on. The effect is even better if you make rude gestures to that other driver, or flash your lights incessantly at him to get out of your way.
   
   
10. Sit in the middle lane at 65mph without actually overtaking anything on the inside lane. That one irritates people big time as they just love having to cross 2 lanes just to get round you. When someone does attempt to overtake, accelerate and prevent them from doing do. When they then relent, slow down to 65mph again. If you're really lucky you may even cause a bit of a delay in someone's journey, something they'll really love you for.
    
    
11. Pull out of a junction right in front of someone, forcing them to ram the anchors on, then dawdle at 25mph. People like being held up by inconsiderate drivers who clearly have no concept of the speed that other drivers are doing. This action is mandatory if you are over sixty or you are a bus driver.
    
    
12. When someone in front of you stalls at a set of traffic lights that have just turned green, blow your horn, flash your lights, and make rude gestures at him. He has ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHT at all to conk out in front of you - but you on the other hand have EVERY RIGHT to make someone who already feels uncomfortable feel even worse, don't you?
    
    
13. When someone in front of you is clearly lost - obvious by their indicating at every junction and cancelling it, tell-tale maps sticking out over the steering wheel, slow hesitant driving, etc. make their life really hard by tailgating, flashing your lights at them, blowing your horn, and making rude gestures. After all, you NEVER get lost yourself, do you? Also it probably helps you think clearly when someone behind you can only think of the One And Only Person In The Universe: Himself.
    
    
14. Discriminate against other drivers because the car they are driving is, in your opinion, inferior to the one you are driving. Treat them like dirt - they have less right to use the roads than you do. This behaviour is mandatory for four-by-four drivers.
    
    
15. Make your mobile phone calls while doing 90mph on the motorway. Show complete and utter contempt towards other drivers - you have a very important high-flying job or meeting to get to and it's far more important for you to conduct business on the roads than to consider silly little things such as the safety of other drivers - that's not even an issue, is it?
    
    
16. When you want to leave the motorway at the next exit, overtake someone just before your junction and carve him up. Make sure there are no more than 6 inches between your bumper and his when you cut in, and, if he complains (like sounding his horn or whatever), indicate very clearly that it's his fault - he has no right to be in your way.
    
    
17. When you are on the motorway, in the middle lane, and the inside lane branches off to become another road, do not slow down slightly to let anyone in who is indicating that they need to move over in front of you in order to stay on the same road. It's perfectly OK for you to force him up the wrong road and make him do a 10-mile detour.
    
    
18. When you're stressed out and in a hurry, take it out on other drivers. A little road rage here and there never goes amiss, and it lets the other drivers know Who Is In Charge - you. They owe it to you because you are having such a bad day, and they never have bad days.
    
    
19. When you approach a Zebra Crossing and there is a pedestrian already crossing on it, drive straight at him as though he does not exist. Although he has right of way technically, he'll come off far worse should you hit him so he's bound to run across the road as quickly as he can. So you'll win - that's the only thing that counts, isn't it?
    
    
20. When someone wants to come in in front of you because he's realised that he got into the wrong lane by mistake, do not let him in. It's his fault for getting into the wrong lane and it serves him right for making such a stupid mistake.
    
    
21. When you are driving in a residential street and come to someone who is trying to do a turn in the road, make that driver's life difficult by pulling up as close as possible to him and glowering at him. He has no right to manoeuvre in front of you, even though he couldn't have seen you coming, and he's totally in the wrong for holding you up. Alternatively, when he is at right-angles to the kerb and hard up against it, try and squeeze through in front of him or behind. Rev your engine up as you do this to make it perfectly clear that this sort of behaviour is not tolerated, and should be punished by death.
    
    
22. When you find yourself driving down a country lane which is wide enough for only one car to pass and you encounter a vehicle coming towards you, prepare to ram him at full speed. It's his duty to stop for you and get out of your way. Should you notice a widening in the road on your side while you can see the guy coming towards you, drive past it and insist that he stops and goes back for you. Should he refuse, or indicate that you have just passed a widening big enough for both vehicles, get out of your car and give him a little GBH. As there are no independent witnesses you will get away with it, and as you drive a four-by-four, a BMW, a bigger or newer car than him it doesn't matter if you force him back a mile when you could have gone back 10 yards, thus saving time for you both. Besides, your pride is at stake - you must protect your ego at all costs. Why should you get one wheel of your nice car dirty when you can force the other driver into a concealed ditch somewhere?
    
    
23. If you are driving down a residential street with cars parked on your side of the road and there is not enough room to pass the car coming up the hill towards you, drive at him as though he is not there. Even though you are on the wrong side of the road, you are far more important than he is so he must get out of your way. If he senses your pigheadedness in time and pull in somewhere so you can pass, rev up your engine and drive past as fast as you can without acknowledging him. God forbid that you should ever be considerate or appreciative.
    
    
24. Flash your lights, blow your horn, and make rude gestures at the driver in front who refuses to pull onto a roundabout because it is not safe to do so or the exit is not clear. If possible, get into the lane alongside him (left or right - it does not matter), pull onto the roundabout and drive away forcing vehicles already on it to either swerve to avoid you or ram the anchors on. After all, you're in such a hurry and it is mandatory for other idiots to get out of your way, wouldn't you agree?
    
    
25. When the driver in front of you wants to park his car by reversing into a parking space, drive right up behind him, ignore his reversing lights, and insist that he moves forward to get out of your way. Use the usual tactics - flashing your lights, blowing your horn, refusing to move back, and making rude gestures. Whatever you do, do not make room for him to manoeuvre - insist that he continues and finds somewhere else to park. After all, he has probably been driving around for ages trying to find a parking space and now he's found one he has you to contend with. But that's his problem, isn't it?
    
    
26. Even better, when someone in front of you stops and engages reverse gear in order to reverse park into a space, nip in there and steal the space from him. He's been driving around for ages looking for that parking space, and now he has to do it all over again because of your selfishness.
    
    
27. Ignore 50mph speed limits and indications to move out of the outside lanes when approaching roadworks on the motorway. Wait until the cones force you out of that lane and then cut in right in front of someone, forcing him into the hard shoulder if necessary. It's so selfish of him to be there thus preventing you changing lanes, and, as there's no way you could have got in sooner, he must give in to you.
    
    
28. When you're driving behind someone who, like you, wants to get past a slow vehicle in front, put your foot down and overtake at the earliest opportunity. You can see that the chap in front would also like to pass, but leave him stitched up behind the slow vehicle if you can. Should he be so cheeky as to move out for the overtake before you can, thereby causing you no inconvenience whatsoever, respond by tailgating and showing your utter annoyance that someone could do that to you. How DARE he overtake before you do, especialy when he has probably been going so slowly for twice as long as you have?
    
    

You're probably wondering what this is doing here instead of under "Humour" - the reason is simple. This sort of thing takes place on a daily basis and all it does is to hack other road users off and upset them. A little consideration for others goes a long way on the roads and makes everyones journies more enjoyable, or at least less stressful. Some of these aggressive tactics will only save you a few seconds, if any time at all, and is it really true that somebody else's safety is less important than saving a little time? No, I thought not. It's far better to take your time than to risk your own or somebody else's safety.

One of the great things about the Internet is that good jokes and other articles tend to circulate very quickly, but one problem is that your E-mail address is usually given to half the world in the process.

Every now and again I receive something - the most recent one being one of those chain letters telling me that if I forward it then Intel will pay me some money and that others had tried it and received large cheques in the post. Believe that if you like, but it is true that they've taken "gullible" out of the dictionary. Again, you can believe that if you like...

The only thing this message did was to give my E-mail address away to about 50 strangers. Ah yes - that's something else it did - give me lots of E-mail addresses of people I don't know.

When I forward something I feel others might find amusing or useful, I typically send it to myself on a Web-based E-mail address (so if there is a large attachment I don't have to wait ages for it to download) and use Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc) for all my intended recipients. In my address book I set the name of the nominated Web-based E-mail address to have a name like "Undisclosed Recipient" to make it obvious to my recipients that this message is a circular and that I don't want to give away lots of E-mail addresses. That way nobody gets anybody else's E-mail address out of me. What a killjoy.

I'm only familiar with Microsoft, and in Outlook Express you may need to enable Bcc. To do this, click New Message to create a new message. Is there a Bcc box underneath the Cc box? In other words, does your New Message window look like this...



...or like this?



If it looks like the second image, Bcc is already enabled and you don't have to do anything else before using it. Otherwise, to enable it click on View in the menu bar of the New Message window, and select Show All Headers.



The Bcc box will then appear underneath Cc and can be used in exactly the same way as Cc. You only need do this once, and not for every message you send.

Most, if not all, E-mail client software should support this functionality, and it should also be available on the Web-based E-mail services. Use the online help to get more information.

Although I have had no problems to date with my E-mail address being disseminated in circular E-mails, there is always potential for harm and I think it's wise to protect yourself and your friends from potential electronic abuse whenever possible.

Slightly humourous in many cases, but my uncle has compiled a list of those little sayings you get on those calendars where you pull off a page each day of the year and get the pleasure of reading a little motto. Plus a few others as well, and a few home-grown ones thrown in for good measure. In a similar vein to my list of Murphy's Laws, Various Laws, and Miscellaneous One-Liners.

1. The New Year gives people a fresh start on their old habits.
2. A lock only keeps an honest man out.
3. A racehorse is an animal that can take hundreds of people for a ride - all at the same time.
4. Do it now! Today will be yesterday tomorrow,
5. Do it tomorrow! You've made enough mistakes today.
6. This will be a better world when the power of love replaces the love of power.
7. It's better to remember a lady's birthday but forget her age.
8. Retirement can be a great joy if you can figure out how to spend time without spending money.
9. The best thing about the 'good old days' is that they are gone forever.
10. If God lived on earth, they would throw stones at His windows too.
11. You can't blame nudists for being the way they are. They were born that way.
12. It's nice to kiss the kids goodnight - if you don't mind waiting up for them.
13. They who practise what they preach may have to put in some overtime.
14. No one is ever to old to learn, but many people keep putting it off anyway.
15. Drive with care, life has no spare.
16. As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point your way.
17. If it's true the world's getting smaller, why do they keep increasing the price of postage?
18. Advertising is what tells us which luxuries we can do without.
19. Nowadays the world revolves on its taxes.
20. If you think nothing is impossible, try yawning with your mouth closed.
21. Look at the world as a big fruitcake. It wouldn't be complete without a few nuts in it.
22. The best way to criticise the work of others is to do yours better.
23. Enjoy yourself - it's later than you think!|
24. If you first and don't succeed, try doing it the way you were told.
25. 'Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.'
26. Old age is preferable to the alternative.
27. I like work, it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.
28. Judge each day not by the harvest, but the seeds you plant.
29. Blessed is he who expects nothing - for he shall not be disappointed.
30. If you can't see the light at end of the tunnel - there must be a train coming.
31. Good fences make good neighbours.
32. Luck always seems to be against those who depend on it.
33. One day, these will be the good old days.
34. Truth is as clear as a bell, but it isn't always tolled.
35. If you're driving, don't forget to take the car.
36. If a soldier marches ten miles a day, he only moves two feet!
37. Eat, drink and be merry, tomorrow ye diet.
38. Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
39. It's a long road that has no turning.
40. Three o'clock is always too late or too early for anything you want to do.
41. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
42. Marriage is like a kitchen table; it has four legs and no draws.
43. Do not take life too seriously, you will never get out of it alive.
44. Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.
45. I'm just catching up with yesterday - by tomorrow I should be ready for today.
46. If money is the root of all evil, give me a cutting.
47. They who have health are rich and do not know it.
48. Never say what time you will be home - then you will never be late.
49. A tax collector has got what it takes to take what you've got.
50. It is nice to be important but it is important to be nice.
51. Much happiness is overlooked because it doesn't cost anything.
52. To do nothing is in everyone's power.
53. All marriages are happy. It's the living together afterwards that causes all the trouble.
54. The Devil's boots don't creak.
55. Judge a man by his questions rather then by his answers.
56. Don't ever slam a door - you might want to go back.
57. A tree is judged by its fruits, not by its roots.
58. Show you care, then others will care for you.

1. First Important Lesson - Everybody is Significant
   During my second month of college our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
   Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
   "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care even if all you do is smile and say Hello."
   I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
   
   
2. Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain
   One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure the lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him.
   Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others. Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole."
   
   
3. Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.
   In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.
   "Fifty cents," replied the waitress.
   The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.
   "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.
   "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.
   The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.
   The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.
   When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.
   
   
4. Fourth Important Lesson - The Obstacle in Our Path
   In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
   Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.
   After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.
   
   
5. Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When It Counts
   Many years ago, there was a little girl named Liz, who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.
   The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. He hesitated for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it, if it will save her."
   As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?" Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.
   You see, after all, understanding and attitude, is everything.
   

• I've learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing "Silent Night"
  Age 6
  
  
• I've learned that our dog doesn't want to eat my broccoli either.
  Age 7
  
  
• I've learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back.
  Age 9
  
  
• I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up again.
  Age 12
  
  
• I've learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up.
  Age 14
  
  
• I've learned that although it's hard to admit it, I'm secretly glad my parents are strict with me.
  Age 15
  
  
• I've learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice.
  Age 24
  
  
• I've learned that brushing my child's hair is one of life's great pleasures.
  Age 26
  
  
• I've learned that wherever I go, the world's worst drivers have followed me there.
  Age 29
  
  
• I've learned if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.
  Age 39
  
  
• I've learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don't know how to show it.
  Age 42
  
  
• I've learned that you can make someone's day by simply sending them a little note.
  Age 44
  
  
• I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others.
  Age 46
  
  
• I've learned that children and grandparents are natural allies.
  Age 47
  
  
• I've learned that no matter what happens or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
  Age 48
  
  
• I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift my spirits for hours.
  Age 49
  
  
• I've learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away from the phone.
  Age 50
  
  
• I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
  Age 52
  
  
• I've learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills.
  Age 52
  
  
• I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die.
  Age 53
  
  
• I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.
  Age 58
  
  
• I've learned that if you want to do something positive for your children, work to improve your marriage.
  Age 61
  
  
• I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
  Age 62
  
  
• I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.
  Age 64
  
  
• I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
  Age 65
  
  
• I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision.
  Age 66
  
  
• I've learned that everyone can use a prayer.
  Age 72
  
  
• I've learned that it pays to believe in miracles. And to tell the truth, I've seen several.
  Age 75
  
  
• I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
  Age 82
  
  
• I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
  Age 85
  
  
• I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
  Age 92
  
  
• I've learned that you should pass this on to someone you care about. Sometimes they just need a little something to make them smile and warm their hearts.
  

WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Institute for the Investigation of Irregular Internet Phenomena announced today that many Internet users are becoming infected by a new virus that causes them to believe without question every groundless story, legend, and dire warning that shows up in their inbox or on their browser. The Gullibility Virus, as it is called, apparently makes people believe and forward copies of silly hoaxes relating to cookie recipes, email viruses, taxes on modems, and get-rich-quick schemes.

"These are not just readers of tabloids or people who buy lottery tickets based on fortune cookie numbers," a spokesman said. "Most are otherwise normal people, who would laugh at the same stories if told to them by a stranger on a street corner." However, once these same people become infected with the Gullibility Virus, they believe anything they read on the Internet.

"My immunity to tall tales and bizarre claims is all gone," reported one weeping victim. "I believe every warning message and sick child story my friends forward to me, even though most of the messages are anonymous."

Another victim, now in remission, added, "When I first heard about Good Times, I just accepted it without question. After all, there were dozens of other recipients on the mail header, so I thought the virus must be true." It was a long time, the victim said, before she could stand up at a Hoaxes Anonymous meeting and state, "My name is Jane, and I've been hoaxed." Now, however, she is spreading the word. "Challenge and check whatever you read," she says.

Internet users are urged to examine themselves for symptoms of the virus, which include the following:

• The willingness to believe improbable stories without thinking.
• The urge to forward multiple copies of such stories to others.
• A lack of desire to take three minutes to check to see if a story is true.

T. C. is an example of someone recently infected. He told one reporter, "I read on the Net that the major ingredient in almost all shampoos makes your hair fall out, so I've stopped using shampoo." When told about the Gullibility Virus, T. C. said he would stop reading email, so that he would not become infected.

Anyone with symptoms like these is urged to seek help immediately. Experts recommend that at the first feelings of gullibility, Internet users rush to their favourite search engine and look up the item tempting them to thoughtless credence. Most hoaxes, legends, and tall tales have been widely discussed and exposed by the Internet community.

Courses in critical thinking are also widely available, and there is online help from many sources, including

• Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability
• Symantec AntiVirus Research Center
• The Urban Legends Website
• Truth or Fiction Website
• Urban Legends Reference Pages
• Datafellows Hoax Warnings

Those people who are still symptom free can help inoculate themselves against the Gullibility Virus by reading some good material on evaluating sources, such as

• Evaluating Internet Research Sources

Lastly, as a public service, Internet users can help stamp out the Gullibility Virus by sending copies of this message to anyone who forwards them a hoax.

This message is so important, we're sending it anonymously! Forward it to all your friends right away! Don't think about it! This is not a chain letter! This story is true! Don't check it out! This story is so timely, there is no date on it! This story is so important, we're using lots of exclamation points! Lots!! For every message you forward to some unsuspecting person, the Home for the Hopelessly Gullible will donate ten cents to itself (if you wonder how the Home will know you are forwarding these messages all over creation, you're obviously thinking too much).

ACT NOW! DON'T DELAY! LIMITED TIME ONLY! NOT SOLD IN ANY STORE!

Ever wanted to remember the twelve countries that are using the Euro? Just use this handy acronym!

• Belgium
• Austria
• Finland
• France
• Luxembourg
• Ireland
• Netherlands
• Germany
•  
• Portugal
• Italy
• Greece
• Spain

This is a genuine psychological test. It is a story about a girl. Whilst at the funeral of her own mother, she met this guy whom she did not know. She thought this guy was amazing, so much her dream guy she believed him to be, that she fell in love with him there and then... A few days later the girl killed her own sister.

Question: What is her motive in killing her sister?
DON'T Scroll down until you have thought what your own answer is to this question!!!!!
































I hope for you own sake your answer is wrong!!!
































*Answer: She was hoping that the guy would appear at the funeral again. If you answered this correctly, you think like a psychopath. This was a test by a famous American psychologist used to test if one has the same mentality as a killer. Many arrested serial killers took part in this test and answered it correctly.
If you didn't answer correctly - good for you. If your friends hit the jackpot, may I suggest that you keep your distance. If you got the answer correct, please let me know so I can keep my distance too...

This is one of those circulars I get from time to time that comes round as a chain e-mail, together with all the usual rubbish that something really nice will happen if you pass it one within a specified short timeframe or else something nasty will happen!! Well .... the content of such e-mails is usually pretty good, so I like to strip off all the rubbish and make the thought-provoking content available.
So ... here goes!

• ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
• TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
• THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
• FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
• FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
• SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
• SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
• EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
• NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
• TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
• ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
• TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
• THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
• FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
• FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
• SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
• SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.
• EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
• NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
• TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
• TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

Need an Extradisambiguator? Click here!

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